Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!usc!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!cbnews!cbnews!military
From: doconnor@uunet.uu.net
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Fixed wing extraction
Message-ID: <1991Feb26.013330.8144@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 26 Feb 91 01:33:30 GMT
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 36
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: doconnor@uunet.uu.net
The "non-stop" pickup method being discussed is the "Fulton Recovery System".
A balloon lifts a cable into the air, and the cable is snagged by a v-shaped
device on the front of an MC-130 Combat Talon. The cable is then grabbed
by members of the aircrew, and somehow is winched up, with the payload
being recovered through the cargo ramp at the back of the aircraft.

The Combat Talon aircraft is operated ( I think the designation is MC-130,
bu the "M" could be incorrect ) is operated by Air Force Special Operations
Forces based at Hurlburt Field, in Florida. This is the same group that
operate the AC-130 Spectre gunships, MH-53J Pave Low helicopters, and
MH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters. Also part of AFSOF are the Combat Controller
Teams (CCT's) who furnish air traffic control capabilities from forward
(and sometimes even in front of forward :-) locations; combat weather teams
who provide weather data collection from similar locations; special
communications teams, and combat cameramen ("Work with me, baby, work with me!
:-). I think they also fly KC-130 tankers from AFSOF.

THe Fulton Recovery System (FRS) is routinely practiced with dummies, and
is an available technique, but it is apparently rarely used due to the
risks invlovled. FRS is only one of many missions flown by Combat Talons.

Another posting mentioned another Combat Talon mission system: the
Low-Altitude Parachute Extraction System ( LAPES ). In this operation
the plane flies very low, and then a parachute attached to a pallet
of deliverables ( like a jeep ) is ejected out the back through
the open cargo door. The pallet follows soon after, of course.

Given that the aircraft never stops flying during LAPES or FRS,
this really does open up ne meanings for the term "non-stop flight".
( Note that LAPES is considered to rough a ride for people, tho,
 even for Marines. )

All this is best-of-my-knowledge, and unclassified material.


Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com